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Wight
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Re: Re:Why do the spiders in the hobbit talk?
Postulations concerning the spawn of Ungoliant might include the following considerations:
1) Shelob was loner.
2) The Spiders of Mirkwood were a somewhat more social group.
Thus, I think it far more likely that the Mirkwood spiders would talk to one another and even to their prey.
Shelob, on the other hand, as the Wight points out, was certainly intent upon her prey, and enraged that they had already eluded her. She had nothing to say to them. Spindly shriveled little Gollum, however, came softly tricksy along and was no doubt quite careful and crafty in dealing with her.
Also, Gollum escaped through her lair before. This was suspiciously easy. One suspects that Sauron had told his "kitty" to let this one go. She was thus, more inclined not to catch and eat Gollum when he returned, promising nice soft scrumptuously juicy prey.
Going back to Morgoth and Ungoliant, this may be a weakness of the spider-spawn. They may give up one in the hand, for two in the bush.
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